He knew it's just him being paranoid, but he couldn't help but feel that everyone was staring at him mockingly. As if they were secretly making fun of him. Who could blame him for feeling that way? It's all because of that damn video he made that was broadcasted all throughout Arcadia and then later made its way to SNS.
Even though he understood that not any of these people actually associated him with that video because he was in his avatar form, he still couldn't help but feel like everyone was laughing at him. There's no doubt that some of them must have known that he was actually YUN. His avatar's face was very similar to his own after all.
It was so embarrassing and humiliating. After Luo Ren told him to do that, he almost couldn't believe his ears. But after seeing the other's evil smile, he knew that he wasn't joking. So, what else could he do but to do it?
It was the evidence Luo Ren wanted as proof of his love for Luo Yan. What else could Shen Ji Yun do when the other put it that way? Having his feelings be questioned was the last thing he ever wanted.
But it was so damn hard to do it. Still, he persevered. The moment he uttered those... humiliating words, he felt liberated. As if a huge weight was lifted off of his shoulders. He just didn't expect that that little video would make its way to Weibo and even became a hot search.
He was bombarded by calls and messages from his uncle and Bai Ze. Even Su Yuqi sent him a message asking if he was being blackmailed. That's when he realized that things became bigger than it should.
But Shen Ji Yun didn't regret any of it. No matter how humiliating, if he thought that it was just him showing his love for Luo Yan, then it became infinitely bearable. Although the embarrassment was still there, as evidence of him hiding here, he actually didn't mind it at all.
Punishing him that way was just Luo Ren's way of venting his anger about his relationship with Luo Yan. If something like that could alleviate the other's anger and could have the other off of their backs, then Shen Ji Yun was willing to do it as many times as needed.
It would be nice though if Luo Yan had called him.
After he answered the calls from his uncle and Bai Ze, explaining to them what happened, he was actually expecting a call from his rabbit. But after waiting for almost the whole night, it didn't come.
He thought at first that the other probably didn't know about it. Which was better in a way. He could just explain it to him once he logged into the game later. But when Shen Ji Yun called Luo Yan this morning, his call was hung up.
That's when he knew that something must be wrong.
His first thought was something must have happened to the other. But then he quickly shook off that idea. If something really did happen, Bai Ze would have informed him about it. Since the two were cousins, the Bai family would definitely be the first people to know if something happened in the Luo family.
Then, there's only one conclusion. Luo Yan was angry at him.
He sent the other a message, asking him directly if he was angry. What he learned from his uncle and Uncle Yue's relationship was that communication was the key to any good relationship. If there's some kind of misunderstanding, they should talk it out and solve it quickly.
He reply he received was a bit baffling though.
Shen Ji Yun took out his phone and looked at Luo Yan's message.
[It seems that Brother Ji Yun doesn't know why I'm angry. Until you realize why, please don't call or message me.]
And so he hadn't messaged or called the other since then.
But Shen Ji Yun still didn't know the answer as to why Luo Yan was mad at him. He had a feeling that it had something to do with that little announcement he made. But which part of it made Luo Yan angry?
Was it because he announced that he had a partner? Or was he embarrassed of him because of that 'little brother' thing?
No, he couldn't imagine Luo Yan being angry because of both cases. The other wasn't someone so shallow that he would be angry over such things. Then, he's in an impasse.
That's what he had been pondering all throughout his morning class. Even now, during his break, it's still the question that's filling his head. Honestly, he couldn't think of any answer. At times like this, he truly regretted not having a high EQ.
Being at his wit's end, he decided to call someone for help.
"Ji Yun? Where are you?" Bai Ze from the other end of the phone. "Seriously, are you some kind of legendary Pokémon? Why is it so hard to find you?"
"Never mind that. I have a question," Shen Ji Yun quickly cut off Bai Ze's tirade.
"What is it?"
"You know, that video of me that circulated yesterday, I think Yan Yan is mad at me because of it," Shen Ji Yun started to explain. "Do you have any idea why? Because I really can't think of anything."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. It took a while before Bai Ze gave an answer.
"Maybe because he didn't like that you humiliated yourself for him."
Shen Ji Yun's eyes widened hearing that. Then realized that that reason was the most probable of all.